Monday, December 31, 2012

Reports are surfacing in Bermuda that government officials are contemplating constructing a pier in St Georges Bermuda. The pier will be long enough to handle the large new generation of cruise ships. Currently Bermuda only has 2 piers at the Dockyard capable of large ships.The Dockyard is a short ferry ride from the country's capital of Hamilton Bermuda - where the ships docked previously.

St. Georges, Bermuda is capable of handling 2-Mid-sized ships simultaneously but the entry to the port is too narrow for the larger, wider ships to pass through. Currently St. Georges has less than 5 ship calls per year and most shops have closed since few passengers travel from the Dockyard to the other end of the island. Under consideration for the new pier is the deep water location near Murray’s Anchorage area.

The new port facilities at St. Georges is supposed to be decided upon in early in 2013. The Bermuda Government is partnering with a unspecified cruise line, to develop the port.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Reports out of Dubai indicate that Cunard's ex famed Queen Elizabeth 2 of 1967 has been once again sold.

The ship was famous for sailing transatlantic from New York to England for much of her career.

The ship was originally sold to Dubai investors in 2008, who intended to convert ths ship into an attraction and world class hotel. When financial troubles hit Dubai the ship laid idle - only being used on rare occassions - such as a venue for a 2011/12 New Years' Eve party.

The ship was originally purchased by Dubai investors for $100 Million Dollars, has now been reportedly sold for $32.4 Million Dollars.

Reportedly purchased by Southeast Asian buyers - it is unclear what further plans lay in her future although some speculate she may have been sold to scrappers.

Friday, December 21, 2012

For the ultimate in sun and fun,
Norwegian Cruise Line today announced its deployment for the fall
and winter 2014/2015 season with eight contemporary ships sailing to the
Caribbean and Bahamas & Florida from five homeports: Miami, New
York, Tampa, Houston and New Orleans. Norwegian Getaway,
Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Pearl will set sail from Miami. Norwegian
Breakaway and Norwegian Gem will continue to depart from New York.
Norwegian Sun debuts in Tampa while Norwegian Dawn will be introduced to
New Orleans. As previously announced, Norwegian
Jewel will set sail from Houston. The line will also increase its
seven-day Mexican Riviera sailings from Los Angeles and a series of
Panama Canal voyages between Los Angeles and Miami. All of these
cruises go on sale today, December 18, 2012 and can be
booked in conjunction with the line’s “The Upgrade Wave” sales event.

Caribbean and Bahamas & Florida From the Northeast

From New York,
Norwegian
Breakaway will sail a series of seven-day Bahamas & Florida
itineraries from her year-round home port of New York City from October
5, 2014 to December
28, 2014 and from February 15, 2015 through April 9, 2015. New York’s
ship will also sail three
12-day Southern Caribbean cruises on January 4, 2015; January 18, 2015;
and February 1, 2015 with stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas,
U.S. Virgin Islands;
Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Castries, St. Lucia; Bridgetown, Barbados;
and Basseterre, St. Kitts.

Norwegian Gem will continue to sail from New York offering nine-day Eastern Caribbean cruises from October 18, 2014
through April 15, 2015 with stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico;
Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and
Tortola, British Virgin Islands, along with
four relaxing days at sea. The ship will also offer one-night cruises
from New York throughout 2014 and 2015.

Canada & New England
For fall foliage viewing at its best, Norwegian Dawn will embark on
four Canada & New England itineraries between Boston and Quebec from
September 12 through October 3, 2014. These sailings can also be
combined for an ultimate 14-day Canada & New England experience.

Norwegian Gem will offer a series of five seven-day Canada & New
England cruises from New York beginning September
13 through October 11, 2014. Ports of call include: Halifax, Nova Scotia; Saint John, New Brunswick; Bar Harbor, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; and Newport, Rhode Island.

Repositioning Cruises

Norwegian Dawn will reposition from Tampa to Boston on April 27, 2014 and sail a 12-day Caribbean Escape with stops
in George Town, Grand Cayman; Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curacao; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

On November 7, 2014, Norwegian Dawn will reposition from Boston
to New Orleans and sail a 14-day Caribbean Escape with ports of call to include San Juan, Puerto Rico; Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba;
Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.

About Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian
Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 46-year history of
breaking the boundaries of traditional
cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising
which revolutionized the industry by giving guests more freedom and
flexibility. Today, Norwegian invites guests to “Cruise Like a
Norwegian” on one of 11 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships,
providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise vacation on
some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Engaged
couples can now experience the romance of being joined at sea by the
Captain aboard a Royal Caribbean International ship through the Royal
Romance weddings and vow renewal program. The Commonwealth of the
Bahamas has cleared the cruise line to conduct legal weddings aboard the
world’s most innovative cruise ships while they are at sea. A Royal
Caribbean ship is an ideal option for a ‘multi-destination’ wedding,
able to cater to large parties, attended by family members and friends,
to smaller – but still unforgettable – affairs. Couples wishing to share
this special moment with friends and family can enjoy the Sweethearts
at Sea promotional offer, inclusive of a ceremony performed by the
Captain, photography and more, when booking 12 or more staterooms on a
2013 Royal Caribbean International sailing during the special
introductory offer.

“Thanks to the support of the Bahamas, our guests can now be married
during the course of their Royal Caribbean cruise and bask in the
romance of the sea as they exchange their vows,” said Adam Goldstein,
president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “Royal Caribbean's
staff and crew will cater the affair with our world-renowned friendly
and engaging Gold Anchor Service to help make the day extra special for
the couple and their guests.”

“The Bahamas is happy to participate in this venture with Royal
Caribbean International,” said Senator Allyson Maynard-Gibson,
Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, the Bahamas. “This
premier cruise line has been bringing visitors to our beautiful country
for many years, and we know that the Royal Romance weddings and vow
renewal program will encourage even more visitors to our beautiful
shores.”

The Royal Romance team of wedding specialists are poised to assist
couples during this momentous occasion in their lives and are eager to
help create a beautifully personalized event that reflects the bride and
groom’s desires. From day one, the Royal Romance team assists in
wedding planning services, including any legal requirements
pre-departure, and once onboard, the Royal Romance Coordinator ensures
every last detail is taken care of for the special moment.
Brides and grooms looking to marry onboard a Royal Caribbean ship will
be married in a manner that is legally recognized by the Bahamas through
the newly passed Marriage Act. The act allows for marriages while in
international waters, which is defined as outside the 12-mile limit of
the territorial waters of any nation. The actual location of the ship
when the marriage takes place is then recorded in the Marriage Record
book of the Bahamas.

Couples have several customizable Royal Romance Package options that
celebrate their big day and include all the essentials for creating the
perfect wedding. For example, the Royal Romance at Sea package includes:
the ceremony performed by the ship’s captain, a groom’s boutonniere, a
rose bouquet for the bride, freshly-made cake, recorded music and a live
soloist during ceremony, wine at the ceremony, dinner for the bride and
groom at an onboard specialty restaurant, photography services, plus
champagne and strawberries in the couple’s stateroom.

The Sweethearts at Seas promotion offers couples a complimentary
Romance at Sea package when they share their happy memories with family
and friends and their wedding party books 12 or more staterooms on a
2013 cruise of five nights or longer. Those couples booking 25 or more
staterooms can enjoy the above, plus a complimentary stateroom upgrade,
bar service and an hors d’oeuvres reception.

Royal Romance also offers vow renewal packages, symbolic services and
customized proposal packages. Complementing Royal Romance’s packages is
Royal Caribbean’s Honeymoon Registry which continues the romance with
friends and family contributing to a couple’s ideal Royal Caribbean
honeymoon cruise. Instead of the standard pots and pans, the couple’s
family and friends can contribute to a dinner at a specialty restaurant,
a couple’s massage, or an excursion. Couples can add all of the
onboard activities they’d like in the registry, where their family and
friends can even contribute to the cruise fare and help make the dream
of vacationing to far-off places a reality.
The Sweethearts at Seas is now available to be booked for cruises
starting January 1, 2013. For more information about the Royal Romance
Program contact your preferred travel agent, visit Royal Caribbean at www.RoyalCaribbean.com/weddings or call 888-WED-RCCL (888-933-7225).

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Celebrity
Cruises is offering an irresistible deal for consumers in the U.S. and
Canada eager to give the gift of a premium cruise vacation this season,
with the “Double Your Gift Card Holiday Offer.”
When a Celebrity Cruises Gift Card is purchased during the month of
December, the modern luxury brand will double the value up to $500 when
the card is used to purchase a cruise by January 31, 2013. With more
than 450 sailings to choose from, featuring destinations around the
world, Celebrity Cruises offers something for everyone on consumers’
gift lists, whether it’s Caribbean island hopping, plying the historic
waters of the Old World, adventure-seeking Down Under or taking in the
sheer majesty of Alaska.
While onboard, guests will be immersed in a world of modern luxury with
fine dining options, premium spa amenities, exciting entertainment and
unrivaled service that will leave them fully relaxed and restored.
Gift-givers can help friends and family make the most of their precious
vacation time, or their own, by taking advantage of this extraordinary
offer by buying a Celebrity Cruises Gift Card by December 31, 2012.
Celebrity Cruises will match up to $200 for a booking on four- to
seven-night sailings, and up to $500 for booking on sailings that are
eight nights or longer. All itineraries are eligible, with the
exceptions of transatlantic voyages and vacations on Celebrity Xpedition in the Galapagos Islands.
Celebrity Cruises Gift Cards can be sent as e-Cards or delivered via
standard mail. For gift cards to be delivered in time for Christmas,
consumers should order by December 21, 2012. Orders can be placed by
calling 1-866-225-6450, via www.celebritycruises.com/gift, or by contacting a travel agent.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Just in time for the holidays, Carnival Cruise Lines has launched its first-ever gift card program – a pre-paid card that can
be used as payment toward a “Fun Ship” vacation or a variety of shipboard purchases.

Available online at
www.carnivalgiftcards.com
or on board Carnival’s ships, the cards are ideal for any occasion –
from weddings and graduations to birthdays and anniversaries – offering
consumers flexibility and convenience in their
vacation purchases. The cards can be pre-loaded with funds ranging
from a minimum of $10 to a maximum of $1,000.

“What
better gift for friends and family than the gift of fun and great
memories?” said Gus Antorcha, Carnival’s senior vice president of guest
commerce. “These
new gift cards are convenient and easy to use and can be applied either
toward the purchase of a cruise or a wide variety of cruise-related
experiences such as a relaxing spa treatment, an exciting shore
excursion or a delectable meal in one of our specialty
restaurants, to name a few.”

The
Carnival Gift Card is simple to use – it may be applied online via the
dedicated web site using the 16-digit card number, redeemed by calling
1-800-CARNIVAL
or used like cash on board as payment toward guests’ “Sail & Sign”
shipboard account.

Holland America Line has dramatically increased its video library on www.hollandamerica.com
with the recent addition of 325 short videos showcasing the line’s
shore excursions in Alaska and select ports around the world.

Featuring
275 videos on Alaska tours and 53 port overviews with shore excursion
details, guests can get a glimpse of select tours before departing on a
cruise and deciding which ones to book. Whether it’s a flightseeing tour
in Anchorage, Alaska, or exploring the streets of Quebec City — the
premium line’s top-rated port call — the videos show the beauty and
diversity of each port while highlighting a particular tour.

“Videos
are the best way to show our guests what’s in store when they book a
tour and to let them know what they can expect,” said Richard Meadows,
executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs for
Holland America Line. “We have more than 4,000 shore excursions, so
these videos help our guests select the right tour that fits their
desires.”

When
in port, guests on a Holland America Line cruise can choose from
several diverse shore excursions including Overland Adventures,
off-the-beaten-track explorations, Signature Collection private-car
touring and exclusive Medallion Collection excursions.

Ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises is offering a
bevy of innovative repositioning cruises
in 2013, with new itineraries on 60% of the voyages. As year-round,
worldwide cruise ships, the award-winning Crystal Symphony and Crystal
Serenity usually move to different regions (i.e., “reposition”)
seasonally. While repositioning cruises historically
offer exceptional value, Crystal ups the ante in 2013, touting
handsomely priced, reinvented journeys with unusual twists across the
Atlantic, Pacific and American coastlines, from Northern to Southern
Europe, North America to South America, and more.

Ø“Wine and Food” theme and extra-special culinary indulgences during U.S. Thanksgiving.

Additional 2013 “repos” that sail outside of the box include:

LA-NY Panama Canal (May 6) with rare call to Charleston
and a “Garden and Floral Design” theme offering shore excursions to local gardens across the eastern seaboard .

“Trans-Atlantic” from London (Sept. 2), ending
in Boston for Crystal’s first time ever, with two calls in Scotland en route.

NY-Miami (Nov. 2) offering extended time in the U.S. Southeast (Charleston, Savannah, and maiden call to St. Augustine),
plus Baltimore, Turks & Caicos, Curacao, Aruba and a “Film and Theatre” theme.

Classic crossings, each with a “Big Band and Ballroom Dance” theme, include:

Miami-Lisbon (March 31)—A dozen Ambassador Hosts to dance and dine with guests, 10 days across the pond, and a visit to Portugal’s
Madeira Island.

Barcelona-Miami (Dec. 9)—Nine luxurious sea days plus calls in the Canary Is. and St. Maarten.

“Next
year, the variety and value of our repositioning cruises is
exceptional: from classic trans-ocean experiences
to more port-focused journeys,” explains Crystal’s Senior Vice
President, Sales & Marketing Jack Anderson. “With more days at sea
on most repositioning voyages, guests have even more time to savor one
of the World’s Best destinations: Crystal’s all-inclusive
shipboard resort, filled with abundant enrichment, entertainment and
pampering.”

With all-inclusive fares for the collection starting at just $2,210/person, couples can save up to $4,000 with current
“Book Now” pricing, if booked by December 28.

The renowned Crystal Experience has been rated “World’s Best” more than any other cruise line, hotel,
or resort in history.

Cutaway Drawing of the Queen Victoria and Stats from The first 5 Years - Click to enlarge

On December 11, 2012 Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria
celebrated her fifth anniversary, as five years ago she departed
on her Maiden Voyage from her homeport of Southampton – a day after
being named by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall with HRH The Prince of Wales
in attendance. Since then she has sailed over half a million nautical
miles, called at 196 ports in 63 countries and carried almost 250,000
guests, many of whom enjoyed the experience so much that they have traveled many times with the ship already. In all, 20,300 bottles of
champagne – enough to fill six Olympic-size swimming pools – have been
drunk and 9,125,000 cups of tea and 1,460,000 scones have been served
since 11 December 2007!

To mark this special birthday, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall will make a
return visit (her third in five years) to her ship on 13 December in
Southampton and spend time meeting crew before unveiling a
specially-commissioned portrait of herself and cutting a special
birthday cake.

“We are very proud of Queen Victoria, her crew and her achievements
since she entered service. To have a visit from Her Royal Highness will
be a very special moment for the ship’s company. Queen Victoria is known
as a happy ship and is certainly extremely popular with Cunard’s
discerning guests.”

Queen Victoria is one of the most celebrated ships to
be introduced in recent years and she quickly established herself as a
popular member of the Cunard fleet continuing in style the line’s
traditions established 172 years ago.

Now the third largest Cunard ship ever built (she was the second largest when she entered service but her sister Queen Elizabeth assumed that position when she joined the fleet in 2010) Queen Victoria has never been about size superlatives – she is about style. When the designers of Queen Victoria
began to consider the ship's interior public spaces, they drew on the
well-recorded and rich history of previous Cunard ocean liners to set
the tone.

From the ship's double and triple-height spaces - a design feature of
grand liners of the past - to rooms imbued with an elegant yet
understated British charm, the overall effect is both contemporary and
classically historic with some exciting innovations. These include the
first traditional West End-style private viewing boxes at sea in the
Royal Court Theatre, the first Cunardia exhibit display at sea, housing
Cunard artefacts and memorabilia and the first two-storey library at sea
featuring an elegant spiral staircase.

Queen Victoria made Cunard history when in December 2010 the company’s first-ever female Captain, Inger Olsen, took command.

The Queen Victoria is an occasional caller at New York - Usually as part of her World Cruise or Repositioning from her West Coast deployments.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Breakaway to Sail from New York to Bermuda or Florida/Bahamas in 2013

Norwegian
Cruise Line announced today two more New York-inspired food and
beverage offerings onboard Norwegian Breakaway, the line’s newest ship:
Sabrett Hot Dogs and Brooklyn Lager beer. Further enhancing the ship’s
ties to New York City, its year-round homeport, these newly-announced
offerings provide guests with a taste of the Big Apple at sea.

Located on the Waterfront, pool deck and
forward deck, three Sabrett hot dog carts will sport the brand’s iconic
yellow and blue umbrellas and offer up the same all-beef frankfurters
that New Yorkers have voted the #1 hot dog for more than 50 years,
renowned for the famous snap! of their natural casing. The carts on
Norwegian Breakaway will also include the company’s famous condiments,
including mustard, sauerkraut, relish, and onions in a delicious tomato
sauce, so guests can order their complimentary Sabrett hot dog “all the
way” (complete with all the toppings).

“As a New Yorker, I’ve been a fan of
Sabrett’s. Since we are launching New York’s ship, it made complete
sense to bring New York’s favorite hot dog to Norwegian Breakaway,” said
Kevin Sheehan, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “With Sabrett hot dogs and
Brooklyn Lager beer, our guests will truly get a real taste of the city
as a part of their whole New York experience while onboard.”

“Sabrett is a New York institution,
offering our famous all-beef frankfurters to New Yorkers for half a
century,” said Mark Rosen, vice president of Sabrett. “We’re so excited
to offer our hot dogs on board Norwegian Breakaway and look forward to
welcoming New York’s ship to the Sabrett family.”

New York’s award-winning Brooklyn
Brewery’s Brooklyn Lager beer will also be offered on Norwegian
Breakaway in Uptown Bar & Grill. Lager beer in the “Vienna” style,
Brooklyn Lager’s amber-gold color and firm malt center are supported by a
refreshing bitterness and floral hop aroma. The aromatic qualities of
the beer are enhanced by “dry-hopping”, the centuries-old practice of
steeping the beer with fresh hops as it undergoes a long, cold
maturation. The result is a wonderfully flavorful beer, smooth,
refreshing and very versatile with food.

Norwegian BreakawayThe 4,000 passenger Norwegian Breakaway will arrive in her year-round homeport of New
York City in early May 2013. The ship will begin weekly summer
seven-day cruises to Bermuda on Sunday, May 12, 2013. From October 2013
through April 2014, New York’s ship will offer voyages from the heart
of Manhattan to the Bahamas & Florida and the Southern Caribbean.

To date, the company has revealed the
ship’s groundbreaking design, including The Waterfront and 678 Ocean
Place; a wide range of indoor and outdoor venues on three dynamic decks
that will create a whole new complex at sea that enhances guests’
connection with the ocean. Norwegian Breakaway’s entertainment will
include three Broadway shows: five-time Tony nominated ROCK OF AGES; the
dance sensation BURN THE FLOOR; and CIRQUE DREAMS & DINNER JUNGLE
FANTASY. The famed comedy troupe The Second City, Howl at the Moon
dueling pianos, and New York’s own Slam Allen will also perform on the
vessel. Celebrity Chef and Food Network star Geoffrey Zakarian will also
debut his first restaurant at sea on Norwegian Breakaway: Ocean Blue by
Geoffrey Zakarian.

The top decks of Norwegian Breakaway will
feature the first Aqua Park at sea with five full-size water slides,
including twin Free Fall slides, the first ever at sea, and a
three-story sports complex that includes the largest ropes course at
sea, a nine-hole miniature golf course, basketball court, rock climbing
wall and more.

The ship will also feature a rich mix of
stateroom options including The Haven by Norwegian, comprised of 42
Suites at the top of the ship and 18 additional Suites located
throughout the ship; the innovative Studios, designed and priced for
solo travelers; the re-introduction of Oceanview staterooms, Balcony and
Mini-Suites; along with Spa Balcony, Mini- Suites and Suites in close
proximity to the spa.

Welcome to the NortheastCruiseGuide Blog

The NortheastCruiseGuide Blog provides a unique perspective and active dialog on cruises, the cruise industry, and ships sailing from New York, Boston, Baltimore, Norfolk, Quebec, and Montreal Canada.
The editor of this column has over 40 years of cruise industry experience and shares his knowledge via this blog, the NYCruiseInfo.com, and the NortheastCruiseGuide.com websites.
The Northeast Cruise Guide Blog is updated daily so please check back frequently.